Portugal distributes tractors to prevent forest fires
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Six municipalities in the Médio Tejo region of Portugal received tractors this Friday to improve forest fuel management and fire prevention.
The deliveries in Constância, Ourém, Sardoal, Tomar, Torres Novas, and Vila Nova da Barquinha are part of a national program funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. These tractors will help the municipalities maintain roads and forest paths, clear vegetation, and protect infrastructure from wildfires.
Rui Ladeira, the Secretary of State for Forests, explained that having the equipment allows for consistent, long-term management of forest areas. Each municipality committed to working on at least 80 kilometers of paths or 80 hectares of fuel management zones annually, though officials believe they may exceed this goal. The tractors are provided on a five-year loan, and the program aims to distribute 150 machines to municipalities across the country.
Beyond the municipal tractors, over forty forest producer organizations with firefighting teams will also receive tractors with brush cutters. The government expects to complete deliveries by the end of October, contingent on machine supply and legal approvals. Additionally, the government will relaunch the Floresta Ativa program in October, providing 4 million euros to support forest land cleaning, management, and improvement, building on a successful first edition in 2025 that supported over 6,400 hectares.
